Our Year 9 students had a valuable experience with the First Give programme, supporting local charities through social action. Since December, they have researched, planned, and delivered initiatives in collaboration with charity representatives. Their efforts culminated in the First Give Final on the 27th of February where the £1,000 award winner was chosen.
Being a finalist for First Give and knowing you will have to speak in front of many families was extremely nerve wracking. But, that feeling changed! Once I had finally gotten up on that stage seeing all of the new faces, my worries were gone. My feeling of confidence overpowered my nervousness and panic over being a good presenter. From my point of view, it was the skill of being confident and positive in front of the audience is what really helped me!
Prery Year 9
Over the past few months, our year group participated in First Give, a programme designed to encourage students to engage with social issues in their communities. Our class chose to focus on family poverty after learning that 1 in 4 children experience material deprivation. We partnered with Little Village, a charity that provides essential items to struggling families, and raised money by selling pre-loved teddies.
The First Give Finals night was the high point of our efforts, where each class selected representatives to present their charity in front of a panel of judges. The judges included two past winners, Mrs Ortega, Ms Akbar, Mrs Manzi, and a guest from outside our school. Their role was to assess each team based on their presentation and social issue, with the winning group receiving £1,000 for their charity.
Before the final presentations, each group participated in a dress rehearsal. This was a crucial moment, as it clearly showed us ways to improve. Although our rehearsal had some setbacks, we used this feedback to refine our speech, ensuring we were fully prepared for the final performance. During our presentation, we focused on delivering a clear, informative and impactful speech. Our teamwork was evident as we played to our individual strengths—some of us focused on the factual aspects, while others delivered an emotional appeal to connect with the audience.
The judging process was intense, and after all the groups presented, we awaited the results which was thrilling. Luckily, we had two standout and amazing performances from Greta and Deivpra. While we placed 2nd, the experience was invaluable. The programme taught us teamwork, resilience and communication, as well as how to engage with social issues in a meaningful way.
Although we did not win the £1,000 prize, we successfully raised funds for our charity and spread awareness about our social issue within our school community. More importantly, we gained skills and confidence that will benefit us beyond this competition.
Zara Year 9
I am so excited to share that our team won the First Give competition, and we were delighted to receive the £1,000 grant for Ignite Youth, a local charity that works with young people in our community.
The project started with the enthusiasm of our group to help youth, and after researching some local charities, we decided to work with Ignite Youth. This wonderful charity is committed to providing mentorship, life skills, and opportunities to young people who are struggling in their lives. We thought it was the perfect cause to help, as Ignite Youth is helping to transform the lives of youth in our community.
Throughout the programme, we delved deeper to understand what the charity does and the real impact it has on young people. We researched for hours upon hours, brainstorming ideas, and practising our presentation. We had a real insight into why there is a need for mentoring and the problems that many young people face. We also organized awareness events, made educational posters, and collaborated with the charity to learn more about their work.
In the final stages, we prepared a strong presentation to showcase our efforts to the judges. Our group worked diligently to ensure that every aspect of the mission of the charity was laid out in a clear and heartfelt way. When we finally presented our project, we were happy with what we had done, but nothing compared to the moment when we were announced as winners.
The £1,000 donation will be given directly to Ignite Youth and will enable them to continue their valuable work and assist even more disadvantaged young people. We are incredibly proud of what we have accomplished through this scheme, and we would not have been able to do it without the kindness of First Give and Ignite Youth.
This experience has taught us valuable lessons about social responsibility, teamwork, and using our voices to make a difference. We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have been part of something so meaningful, and we’ll carry these lessons with us for the future.
Monisha Year 9
